Week 6: Evaluating one of Willis’ tasks

Week 6: Evaluating one of Willis’ tasks
Group members: Gemma, Irene, Laia, Monica, Sean, Sunny

Summarising our overall discussion our group does not really believe that TBL is a significant alternative to the PPP model. We see these models as variations of the same base. Both approaches are divided into three main parts with similar objectives for each of them.
We disagree on TBL being genuinely learner-centred. Learners at the end do not get the chance to choose what to base the task on.
Regarding the second statement, we agree on TBL being a great communicative language teaching. However, we do think it is not based on sound principles but phrase usage. As Willis says the learner has “plenty of opportunities for real language use” but how realistic is that use? We see these opportunities more like those taking part in situational tasks or role play tasks rather than authentic conversations.
We agree of TBL being an approach that integrates very well the four skills (writing, reading, listening and speaking). But we disagree with Willis in the fact that it is concerned with both accuracy and fluency. As long as the teacher does not correct the mistakes that students make during their performances, they will not be aware of the form and will not have an accurate use of language. So we think meaning and fluency are given a higher importance.